Phrase guide

quake in one's boots

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be very frightened, scared, or nervous.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • The thought of climbing that high had him quaking in his boots.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: trillen op zijn benen — to be very frightened
  • Russian: душа́ в пятки ушла (dušá v pjatki ušla) — to be very frightened
  • Russian: се́рдце в пятки ушло (sérdce v pjatki ušlo) — to be very frightened
  • Telugu: గుండె జారిపోవు (guṇḍe jāripōvu) — to be very frightened